Coventry musician dies of heart attack in Bulgaria

Coventry folk musician, Martin Jenkins, during his heyday in the 1960s.

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TRIBUTES have been paid to a much loved Coventry folk musician who has died aged 64.

Martin Jenkins, a violinist, flautist and mandocello wizard, was a huge part of the folk scene in the city from the 1960s right through to the 1990s.

Martin, who also worked as a producer with many musicians in Coventry, died of a heart attack at his home in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Tuesday.

He was born in London but moved to Coventry and made his name when he joined popular city folk band Dando Shaft.

Over the years he also played with Hedgehog Pie, Whippersnapper – touring with them for more than a decade – and also Joe O’Donnell’s Shkayla.

He had recently moved to Bulgaria, the homeland of his wife Kalinka Vulcheva, who was a soloist with the Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares ensemble for more than 20 years.

The pair met while Martin was touring in Bulgaria and they married some time later.

Coventry folk fans often packed into venues across Coventry and Warwickshire to see Martin play with his bands.

While he was with Dando Shaft they were often seen playing at the Three Tuns Folk Club in Bull Yard, city centre.

He also played at the Village Pump Folk Club in Coventry when he was an occasional member of the Magic Rantabout Band.

On a folk music forum website this week, fellow musicians and friends wrote some touching messages.

Graham Bradshaw said: “Great days, great music and some wonderful memories. Mart was a truly innovative musician and, I know everybody always says it, but he really will be sorely missed.

“He leaves a legacy of some wonderful music in all those bands.”

Graeme Harvey added: “He was a real gent and was pleased to talk about what was an ageing work of his even then. An outstanding musician and totally unique. A sad loss.”

His former band mate in Hedgehog Pie Stu Luckley said: “Martin was so influential in my musical development when we played together in Hedgehog Pie.

“The most inventive musician I have played with and such a warm, lovely bloke. He’ll be sadly missed by many.”

Paul Heskett also wrote: “Martin was not only a marvellous musician and an amazingly talented multi-instrumentalist, he was a lovely, gentle, sensitive human being. The world is poorer for his loss; but those of us touched by his musicianship and humanity can feel privileged.”